Trafalgar SquareWhere Admiral Nelson looks down on Central London. Down The mall to Buckingham Palace; Down Whitehall to Downing Street and on to big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Behind is the West End with it's Would famous theatres centred on Leicester Square and Shaftsbury Avenue.National GalleryTrafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN Information Line: +44 [0]207 747 2885Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk Open: Monday to Saturday 10.00 - 18.00, Sunday 14.00 (Not Dec 25/26) 14.00 - 17.30. Displays include a huge permanent collection of paintings and sculptures - special exhibitions.

London Planetarium is located next door; visitors can experience a virtual reality trip through space. Tower of LondonEC3N 4ABTel: +44 [0]20 7709 0765Website: www.hrp.org.uk This historic building, guarded by the famous 'Beefeaters' spans 900 years of British history and has served as a palace, prison and execution site. It is the most famous fortress in Europe and houses the priceless Crown Jewels, Royal Armouries and the ravens.

Tower Bridge Experience Rd., SE1 2UP Tel: +44 [0]207 403 3761Website: www.towerbridge.org.ukOpen daily till 6 pm Completed in 1894 this piece of Victorian engineering has become an international symbol of London. Visit the inside to learn about the bridge's history and enjoy spectacular views from the walkways.

Big Ben & Houses of ParliamentThe UK's seat of power and contains House of Commons and House of Lords. This superb neo-Gothic building replaced the original which burnt down in 1837. The 4-faced clock is the largest in Britain and includes the famous 14-ton bell called 'Big Ben'.

Tate Gallery Millbank, SW1P 4RGTel: +44 [0]207 887 8000 Website: www.tate.org.uk/britain/ Open : Mon-Sat 1000-1750, Sun 1400-1750. Closed Good Fri, May Bank Holiday, 24-26 Dec, 1Jan The Tate Gallery holds the national collection of British painting from 1500 to the present day, the national collection of 20th century painting and sculpture and the Turner Collection.

Natural History MuseumCromwell Rd SW7 5BD. Tel: +44 [0]20 7942 5000Website: www.nhm.ac.uk Beautiful cathedral-like building opened in 1881 and contains some of the finest natural history collections of the world. The new Earth Galleries bring to life the four billion year old story of our planet with simulated earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Also spectacular dinosaur exhibition. Open: Daily until 5.50 pm

Science Museum Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD Tel: +44 [0]207 938 8000Website: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Open: Mon-Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1100-1800. Closed 24-26 Dec.National museum of science and industry. Special interactive gallery for children, Wellcome Museum of Medicine, Flight Lab, Food for Thought Gallery an Space Gallery. Tube: South Kensington Science Museum: World famous museum covers the history and development of science and technology with interactive educational displays. From the first steam locomotive to man's first flight in space. Includes Flight Gallery, Challenge of Materials Gallery and the actual Apollo 10 capsule.

Victoria & Albert MuseumCromwell Road, SW7 2RLTel: +44 [0]20 7942 2000Website: www.vam.ac.uk Open: Tue-Sun 1000-1750, Mon 1200-1750. Closed 24-26 Dec and New Year's Day and Good Fri. The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is the world's largest museum of the decorative arts and is home to 145 galleries, including national collections of sculpture, furniture, fashion and photographs.

London ZooRegent's Park, NW1 4RYTel: +44 [0]207 722 3333 Website: www.londonzoo.org Open: daily Mar-Sep, 1000-1730; Oct-Feb, 1000-1600. Closed 25 Dec. The world's most famous zoo with over 8,000 animals. Daily program of events including Animal Encounters, which give visitors the opportunity to learn more about the animals from their keepers. St Paul's CathedralEC4M 8AD Tel: +44 [0]207 236 4128Open Mon - Sat 9.30 am-4.00 pm. Rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire in 1666. Among its attractions are the Whispering Gallery, the Stone Gallery, and the Golden Gallery from which there are superb views of the Cathedral.

Tate ModernBankside SE1 9TG Tel: +44 [0]207 887 8000 Website: www.tate.org.uk/modern/ Tube: Southwark. Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, Tate Modern displays the Tate collection of international modern art from 1900 to the present day, including major works by Dalí, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko and Warhol as well as contemporary work by artists such as Dorothy Cross, Gilbert & George and Susan Hiller.

Imperial War MuseumLambeth Road, SE1 6HZ Tel: +44 [0]207 416 5000 Website: www.iwm.org.uk Open : daily 1000-1800. Closed 24-26 Dec. Museum tells the story of 20th century war from Flanders to the Gulf Special features include the Blitz Experience, Operation Jericho and the Trench Experience. Interactive videos and children's activities.

Museum of LondonLondon Wall, Barbican London EC2Y 5HNTel: +44 [0]207 600 3699Website: www.museum-london.org.uk Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 - 17.30. Sunday and bank holidays except Xmas and Boxing Day 10.00 - 17.30. Displays include the Thames Before London (Prehistoric exhibits), Roman London (including an excellent mosaic floor), a Fire of London display and the museum overlooks some of the original Roman Fort.Buckingham PalaceLondon, SW1A 1AA Website: royalresidences.com Changing of the Guard: Queen Victoria was the first Queen to live in the palace in 1837 and it has been the London home of the Royal Family ever since. The Changing of the Guard: takes place everyday at 11.30 am from May to July - lasts approx 40 min. From Aug to April the ceremony takes place at the same time on alternate days.Buckingham Palace: Open Aug/Sept only